Compact collapsible gazebo

ABSTRACT

A compact collapsible gazebo includes a gazebo frame, which includes a plurality of telescoping legs, configured to rest on a ground surface and to extend and collapse. The gazebo frame also includes a plurality of side scissor structures, each comprising a plurality of scissor members and coupled to a pair of the telescoping legs, where the side scissor structures scissor together to collapse the gazebo frame and scissor apart to expand the gazebo frame. The gazebo frame also includes a plurality of central scissor structures, each having a plurality of scissor members and coupled to a central cover support and a midsection of a side scissor structure, where the central scissor structures scissor together to collapse the gazebo frame and scissor apart to expand the gazebo frame. Advantages of the invention include compactness and ease of transport of the gazebo for the gazebo user.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to gazebos, and moreparticularly to collapsible gazebos.

BACKGROUND

Gazebos are known to provide shade from the sun and protection fromrain. To make gazebos portable, collapsible gazebos have been designed.Collapsible gazebos can typically be deployed at a desired location,such as a park or back yard, and collapsed when no longer needed.

Conventional collapsible gazebos present a problem, however, in thatthey can be very large when collapsed, making them cumbersome totransport.

Therefore, what is needed is a compact collapsible gazebo.

SUMMARY

The invention overcomes the identified limitations and provides acompact collapsible gazebo.

An exemplary embodiment of a compact collapsible gazebo includes agazebo frame, which includes a plurality of telescoping legs, configuredto rest on a ground surface and to extend and collapse. The gazebo framealso includes a plurality of side scissor structures, each comprising aplurality of scissor members and coupled to a pair of the telescopinglegs, where the side scissor structures scissor together to collapse thegazebo frame and scissor apart to expand the gazebo frame. The gazeboframe also includes a plurality of central scissor structures, eachhaving a plurality of scissor members and coupled to a central coversupport and a midsection of a side scissor structure, where the centralscissor structures scissor together to collapse the gazebo frame andscissor apart to expand the gazebo frame.

In one aspect of the invention, the central cover support is configuredto extend in a telescoping fashion in response to expanding of thegazebo frame and collapse in a telescoping fashion in response tocollapsing of the gazebo frame. In another aspect, the number oftelescoping legs is four, the number of side scissor structures is four,and the number of central scissor structures is four.

In another aspect of the invention, the gazebo frame includes aplurality of feet, each coupled to a bottom of a telescoping leg,configured to rest on the ground surface. In another aspect, a gazebocover is configured to lie on top of the central cover support and atleast one other part of the gazebo frame.

In another embodiment, a collapsible gazebo system includes acollapsible gazebo frame and a gazebo case configured to contain thegazebo frame when collapsed. The gazebo frame includes a plurality oftelescoping legs, configured to rest on a ground surface and to extendand collapse. The gazebo frame also includes a plurality of side scissorstructures, each comprising a plurality of scissor members and coupledto a pair of the telescoping legs, where the side scissor structuresscissor together to collapse the gazebo frame and scissor apart toexpand the gazebo frame. The gazebo frame also includes a plurality ofcentral scissor structures, each having a plurality of scissor membersand coupled to a central cover support and a midsection of a sidescissor structure, where the central scissor structures scissor togetherto collapse the gazebo frame and scissor apart to expand the gazeboframe.

In one aspect, the gazebo case includes wheels, configured to allow thegazebo case to roll. In another aspect, the gazebo case includes storagepockets.

Advantages of the invention include compactness and ease of transport ofthe gazebo for the gazebo user.

DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a compact gazebo without a cover,according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a compact gazebo with a cover,according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2B is a side view showing a compact gazebo with a cover, accordingto one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2C is a top view showing a compact gazebo with a cover, accordingto one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3A is a topside perspective view showing a gazebo case, accordingto one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3B is a bottomside perspective view showing a gazebo case,according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments are described herein to provide a detaileddescription of the invention. Variations of these embodiments will beapparent to those of skill in the art. For example, the invention isdescribed with reference to a compact gazebo, but the invention may alsoapply to other types of collapsible structures, such as tents orcabanas.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a compact collapsible gazebo 100(compact gazebo, collapsible gazebo, or gazebo) without a cover,according to one embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment, thecollapsible gazebo 100 includes a gazebo frame 180. The gazebo frame 180includes a plurality of telescoping legs 110, configured to rest on aground surface and to extend and collapse. The gazebo frame 180 alsoincludes a plurality of side scissor structures 140, each having aplurality of scissor members 143 and coupled to a pair of thetelescoping legs 110, where the side scissor structures 140 scissortogether to collapse the gazebo frame 180 and scissor apart to expandthe gazebo frame 180. The gazebo frame 180 also includes a plurality ofcentral scissor structures 150, each having a plurality of scissormembers 153 and coupled to a central cover support 160 and a midsectionof a side scissor structure 147, where the central scissor structures150 scissor together to collapse the gazebo frame 180 and scissor apartto expand the gazebo frame 180.

In one aspect of the invention, the central cover support 160 isconfigured to extend in a telescoping fashion in response to expandingof the gazebo frame 180 and collapse in a telescoping fashion inresponse to collapsing of the gazebo frame 180. In another aspect, thenumber of telescoping legs 110 is four, the number of side scissorstructures 140 is four, and the number of central scissor structures 150is four.

In another aspect of the invention, the gazebo frame includes aplurality of feet 105, each coupled to a bottom of a telescoping leg110, configured to rest on the ground surface.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a compact gazebo 200 with a cover235, according to one embodiment of the invention. The gazebo cover 235is configured to lie on top of the central cover support 160 and atleast one other part of the gazebo frame 180. In one aspect, the gazebocover 235 includes fasteners 220, configured to fasten the gazebo cover235 to the gazebo frame 180. In another aspect, the gazebo cover 235includes tie-downs 215, configured to secure the gazebo frame 180 andcover to the ground surface.

FIG. 2B is a side view showing the compact gazebo 200 with the cover235, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2C is a top view showing the compact gazebo 200 with the cover 235,according to one embodiment of the invention. In one aspect, the gazebocover 235 includes ribs 265 to strengthen the gazebo cover 235 at stresspoints.

FIG. 3A is a topside perspective view showing a gazebo case 300,according to one embodiment of the invention. In one aspect, the gazebocase 300 includes wheels 310, configured to allow the gazebo case 300 toroll. In another aspect, the gazebo case 300 includes storage pockets330 and 360. In another aspect, the gazebo case 300 is opened and closedusing a zipper 340. In another aspect, the gazebo case 320 also includeslocking straps 320 to prevent the gazebo case 300 from opening when thestraps 320 are in a locked position.

In connection with the gazebo case 300, one embodiment of a collapsiblegazebo system includes the gazebo frame 180 and the gazebo case 300,configured to contain the gazebo frame 180 when collapsed. In oneaspect, the gazebo case 300 is also configured to contain the gazebocover 235, when not deployed.

FIG. 3B is a bottomside perspective view showing a gazebo case,according to one embodiment of the invention.

In one embodiment, a method of striking a collapsible gazebo includescollapsing a plurality of telescoping legs, collapsing a plurality ofside scissor structures, each coupled to a pair of the telescoping legs,and, collapsing a plurality of central scissor structures, each coupledto a central cover support and a midsection of a side scissor structure.In one aspect, the method also includes the step of collapsing thecentral cover support. In another aspect, the method also includes thestep of containing the collapsible gazebo in a gazebo case.

Advantages of the invention include compactness and ease of transport ofthe gazebo for the gazebo user.

Having disclosed exemplary embodiments and the best mode, modificationsand variations may be made to the disclosed embodiments while remainingwithin the subject and spirit of the invention as defined by thefollowing claims.

1. A collapsible gazebo including a gazebo frame, the gazebo framecomprising: a plurality of telescoping legs configured to rest on aground surface and to extend and collapse; a plurality of side scissorstructures, each having a plurality of scissor members and coupled to apair of the telescoping legs, where the side scissor structures scissortogether to collapse the gazebo frame and scissor apart to expand thegazebo frame; and a plurality of central scissor structures, each havinga plurality of scissor members and coupled to a central cover supportand a midsection of a side scissor structure, where the central scissorstructures scissor together to collapse the gazebo frame and scissorapart to expand the gazebo frame.
 2. The collapsible gazebo of claim 1,wherein: the central cover support is configured to extend in atelescoping fashion in response to expanding of the gazebo frame andcollapse in a telescoping fashion in response to collapsing of thegazebo frame.
 3. The collapsible gazebo of claim 1, further comprising:a gazebo cover, configured to lie on top of the central cover supportand at least one other part of the gazebo frame.
 4. The collapsiblegazebo of claim 1, wherein the number of telescoping legs is four, thenumber of side scissor structures is four, and the number of centralscissor structures is four.
 5. The collapsible gazebo of claim 1,further comprising: a plurality of feet, each coupled to a bottom of atelescoping leg, configured to rest on the ground surface.
 6. Acollapsible gazebo system, comprising: a gazebo frame, the gazebo framehaving: a plurality of telescoping legs, configured to rest on a groundsurface and to extend and collapse; a plurality of side scissorstructures, each having a plurality of scissor members and coupled to apair of the telescoping legs, where the side scissor structures scissortogether to collapse the gazebo frame and scissor apart to expand thegazebo frame; and a plurality of central scissor structures, each havinga plurality of scissor members and coupled to a central cover supportand a midsection of a side scissor structure, where the central scissorstructures scissor together to collapse the gazebo frame and scissorapart to expand the gazebo frame; and a gazebo case configured tocontain the gazebo frame when collapsed.
 7. The collapsible gazebosystem of claim 6, wherein: the central cover support is configured toextend in a telescoping fashion in response to expanding of the gazeboframe and collapse in a telescoping fashion in response to collapsing ofthe gazebo frame.
 8. The collapsible gazebo system of claim 6, furthercomprising: a gazebo cover, configured to lie on top of the centralcover support and at least one other part of the gazebo frame.
 9. Thecollapsible gazebo system of claim 8, wherein the gazebo case isconfigured to contain the gazebo cover, when the gazebo cover is notdeployed.
 10. The collapsible gazebo system of claim 6, wherein thegazebo case further comprises wheels, the wheels configured to allow thegazebo case to roll.
 11. The collapsible gazebo system of claim 6,wherein the gazebo case further comprises storage pockets.
 12. Thecollapsible gazebo system of claim 6, wherein the number of telescopinglegs is four, the number of side scissor structures is four, and thenumber of central scissor structures is four.
 13. The collapsible gazebosystem of claim 6, further comprising: a plurality of feet, each coupledto a bottom of a telescoping leg, configured to rest on the groundsurface.
 14. A method in striking a collapsible gazebo, comprising thesteps of: collapsing a plurality of telescoping legs; collapsing aplurality of side scissor structures, each coupled to a pair of thetelescoping legs; and collapsing a plurality of central scissorstructures, each coupled to a central cover support and a midsection ofa side scissor structure.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprisingthe step of: collapsing the central cover support.
 16. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising the step of: containing the collapsiblegazebo in a gazebo case.